Improvement in clothes-pounders



D. w. RAWSON. ClotheS- Pounders.

No.138,044. PatentedApril22,873.

NIIED STATES PATENT FFIC.

DAVID W. RAWSO, OF CROYDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-POUNDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,044, dated April 22, 1873; application filed October 16,1872.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID W. RAWSON, of. Croydon, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain Improvements in App aratus for Washin g Clothes, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relatos to that class of imple ments or apparatus used in washing clothes by which the atmosphere is utilized as an auxiliary to the operation of pounding and rubbing. The object of my invention is to introduce atmospherio air into the water and among the clothes undergoing the process of washing, causing a more thorough and effective agitation of both the water and clothes, and the more easy and rapid accomplishment of the purposes of the operation.

I denominate my said invention the pneumatic clotheswasher.

Figure 1 is an elevated view of a clotheswasher involving my said invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the valvebox and valve. Fig. 3 is a view of the under surface of the foot of my washer when constructed of wood. Fig. 4: is a view of the under surface of the foot ofmy washer when constructed of a metallic substance.

A is the valve-box, to which is attached the valve V. F is a tube passing through the valve-box, the handle B, and the foot D. 0 is the upper part of the handle B, swelling out gradually to the top of the handle, in which are inserted the valve-boxA and valve V. The foot D is made in a pyramidal form, with a succession of heads or rims, b b, &c., extending from the top to the bottom of the foot.

In Fig. 3, which represents the under surface of the foot D, when constructed of wood, Erepresents a series of twelve slots or grooves,

all diverging from the tube F, through which the air and water pass outward. G are the intermediate portions of the under surface of the foot between grooves E.

In Fig. 4, which represents the foot D, when constructed of brass, copper, or'other suitable metallic substance, E represents a series of twelveflanges or elevated ridges, with sunken intermediate spaces Gr, the said spaces serving as openings through which the air drawn in through the tube F passes out, driving the water before it into and through the clothes undergoing the operation of washing. I represents oval interstices in the outer rim of the footD, for the passage of water in the upward and downward motion of the washer. The bot tom surface of the foot D with the slots E, surfaces E, and intermediate spaces G, and interstices I may be made of India rubber, if preferred in use to the wooden or metallic surfaces; and the said slots and flanges with these intermediate elevations and sunken spaces and the oval interstices may be increased or reduced in number, as may be found most useful in practice.

The operation of my said invention is as follows: The clothes to be washed are placed in a tub, such as is commonly used for washin g, containing a sufficient quantit5 of water suitably treated with Soap for the operation. I then introduce my improved clothes-washer and work it up and down with the hand or with suitable mechanism. Vhen the washer is raised the air is drawn down through the tube F, and when the washer is depressed the valve V closes, and the air drawn down by the upward motion of the washer is forced out through the slots E in the wooden foot D or through the intermediate spaces G in the metallic foot, driving the water before it and dispersing itself and the water through the clothes. The interstices I in the metallic foot allow the water to pass actively up through them and diffuse itself among the clothes, thus aiding the operation of washing. The rims or heads b b, &c., also aid by their rubbing action in removing the drt and impurities from the clothes in the process of being cleansed.

Having described my said invention, and its mode of operation, what I claim is- The valve V, in combination with the tube F and the foot D, constructed substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

DAVID W. RAWSON.

Witnesses:

EDMUND 'BURKE, CALVIN B. ANGELL. 

